Multidirectional foot controller

ABSTRACT

A multidirectional foot controller includes a base, a movable platform, a rotatable platform, and two pedals successively stacked and assembled together. The multidirectional foot controller is activated by having the two pedals depressed simultaneously, and then controls an externally connected endoscope to move forward or backward by means of a movable platform, or controls the endoscope to move leftward or rightward by means of a rotatable platform. By having only one of the pedals depressed, the multidirectional foot controller can change the field of view of the endoscope. The resultant multidirectional operation helps to improve working efficiency and operational stability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to foot controllers, and more particularly to a multidirectional foot controller suitable for positioning an endoscope.

2. Description of Related Art

In the process of minimally invasive surgery using endoscope, for fast adjustment of the endoscope's field of view, while keeping the endoscope stable, a robotic arm is typically employed to provide structural support to the endoscope. The operating surgeon operates a foot controller to move the robotic arm that in turn places the endoscope as needed.

Such a foot controller, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,998, may use plural buttons to activate different functions. However, the known device has some of the buttons provided on the same panel, and tends to lead to users' wrong stepping. Furthermore, since some of the buttons are located near edges of the controller's base, it is likely that the user's foot slips off the keys and failed operation is caused. Hence, the prior-art device needs to be improved for better operational convenience and stability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional foot controller, which allows multidirectional operation, while providing good operational stability and accuracy.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the disclosed multidirectional foot controller comprises a base, two first position detecting switches, two second position detecting switches, a movable platform, a rotatable platform, and two pedals. The two first position detecting switches are located at front and rear ends of the base. The two second position detecting switches are located at left and rear sides of the base. The movable platform is such slidably installed on the top surface of the base so that it can move forward or backward with respect to the base. When the movable platform moves to the end of its travel, it touches one of the first position detecting switches, and starts to control a robotic arm to drive an endoscope to move forward or backward. The rotatable platform is such pivotally installed on the top surface of the movable platform so that it can rotate leftward or rightward with respect to the movable platform. When the rotatable platform to the end of its rotational range, it touches one of the second position detecting switches, and starts to control the robotic arm to drive the endoscope to move leftward or rightward. The two pedals are tandem arranged on the top surface of the rotatable platform, for a user to depress and thereby make the movable platform move forward or backward and make the rotatable platform to rotate leftward or rightward.

Thereby, the disclosed multidirectional foot controller can use the movable platform to move the endoscope forward or backward, and use the rotatable platform to move the endoscope leftward or rightward. Additionally, the endoscope's field of view can be sized by the user's stepping on a single. The resultant multidirectional operation helps to improve working efficiency and operational stability.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the base has a lower housing, an immovable platform, and at least two rollers. The immovable platform is placed on the top surface of the lower housing. The two rollers are arranged at two ends of the immovable platform. The two first position detecting switches are located at front and rear ends of the lower housing. The two second position detecting switches are located at left and rear sides of the lower housing. The movable platform is stacked on the top surface of the immovable platform. The movable platform has its bottom surface provided with at least two roller tracks. Each of the roller tracks abuts against one said roller. Thereby, the movable platform can slide forward or backward on the base in virtue of the rollers.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the movable platform has its top surface provided with a first pivot portion. The rotatable platform has its bottom surface provided with a second pivot portion. The first and second pivot portions are pivotally connected through a bearing, so that the rotatable platform can rotate leftward or rightward with respect to the movable platform. In addition, a torsion spring is provided between the rotatable platform and the movable platform, so that the rotatable platform after intended rotation can be returned to its initial position by the torsion spring.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the movable platform has a lower curved groove, and the rotatable platform has an upper curved groove. The upper and lower curved grooves jointly receive a guiding member passing therethrough. The guiding member has one end fixed to the rotatable platform, so that the rotatable platform can move more stably with the support from the guiding member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention, showing the tandem pedals are depressant simultaneously.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention, showing the rotatable platform rotating rightward.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but shows the rotatable platform rotating leftward.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the present invention, showing the movable platform moving forward.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 but shows the movable platform moving backward.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the present invention, showing the front pedal pressed.

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9 but shows the rear pedal pressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, a multidirectional foot controller 10 comprises a base 20, two first position detecting switches 30, two second position detecting switches 40, a movable platform 50, a rotatable platform 60, and two pedals 70.

The base 20 has an upper housing 21, a lower housing 22, an immovable platform 23, and a plurality of rollers 25. The upper housing 21 has a window 24. The lower housing 22 is assembled to the upper housing 21 from below. The immovable platform 23 is fixed to the top surface of the lower housing 22. The rollers 25 are evenly distributed at the front and rear ends of the immovable platform 23.

The first position detecting switches 30 as shown are limit switches that are fixed to the front and rear ends of the lower housing 22 of the base 20 through two first switch holders 32.

The second position detecting switch 40 as shown are limit switches that are fixed to the left and rear sides of the lower housing 22 of the base 20 through two second switch holders 42.

The movable platform 50 is assembled to the top surface of the immovable platform 23, and, as shown in FIG. 3, the front and rear ends of the bottom surface of the movable platform 50 has two roller tracks 51. Each of the roller tracks 51 accommodates with two rollers 25, so that the movable platform 50 are allowed to move forward or backward with respect to the base 20 by means of the rollers 25. Additionally, the front end of the movable platform 50 has a front protrusion 52. The rear end of the movable platform 50 has a rear protrusion 53 and a first pivot portion 54 near the rear protrusion 53. Each of the front and rear protrusions 52, 53 positionally corresponds to one of the first position detecting switches 30.

The rotatable platform 60 is assembled to the top surface of the movable platform 50. The rotatable platform 60 at its bottom surface near its rear end has a second pivot portion 61. The second pivot portion 61 is pivotally connected to the first pivot portion 54 of the movable platform 50 through a bearing 62, so that the rotatable platform 60 can on one hand rotate leftward or rightward with respect to the movable platform 50 and on the other hand drive the movable platform 50 to move forward or backward with respect to the base 20. Moreover, the left and rear sides of the rotatable platform 60 are provided with a left protrusion 63 and a right protrusion 64, respectively. Each of the left and right protrusions 63, 64 positionally corresponds to one of the second position detecting switches 40.

For allowing the rotatable platform 60 to automatically return to its original position after rotation, a torsion spring 65 is mounted around the first pivot portion 54 of the rotatable platform 60. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the torsion spring 65 has its two ends connected to the movable platform 50 and the rotatable platform 60, respectively, so that the torsion spring 65 provides a returning force to the rotatable platform 60. Also, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the movable platform 50 has its front end provided with a lower curved groove 55, and the rotatable platform 60 has its front end provided with an upper curved groove 66. A guiding member 80 is placed in the upper and lower curved grooves 65, 55. The guiding member 80 has a shaft 82, a fixed block 84, and an idler 86. The shaft 82 passes through the upper curved groove 66 of the rotatable platform 60 and the lower curved groove 55 of the movable platform 50. The fixed block 84 is connected to the top end of the shaft 82 and is fixed to the top surface of the rotatable platform 60. The idler 86 is rotatably connected to the bottom end of the shaft 82 and rollably abuts against the wall of the lower curved groove 55 of the movable platform 50. Thereby, the guiding member 80 moves along the upper and lower curved grooves 65, 55 as the rotatable platform 60 rotates, so as to further ensure stable movement of the rotatable platform 60.

The two pedals 70 are tandem and symmetrically arranged on the top surface of the rotatable platform 60, and are exposed at the window 24 of the upper housing 21 of the base 20, for a user to step.

Furthermore, the disclosed multidirectional foot controller 10 has a circuit board 90 that is fixed to the lower housing 22 of the base 20 and located below the immovable platform 23. The circuit board 90 is electrically communicated with the pedals 70, the first position detecting switches 30, and the second position detecting switches 40 simultaneously, so as to process the signals from the pedals 70, the first position detecting switches 30, and the second position detecting switches 40, thereby allowing the disclosed multidirectional foot controller 10 to drive a robotic arm (not shown) that in turn drives an endoscope (not shown) under the control of an operating surgeon for minimally invasive surgery.

In use, the two pedals 70 are simultaneously depressed to turn on the controller (as shown in FIG. 4). Then, for controlling a robotic arm to drive an endoscope to move leftward or rightward, a user may selectively use the two pedals 70 to directly make the rotatable platform 60 rotate leftward or rightward. When the rotatable platform 60 has its left protrusion 63 or right protrusion 64 touching the second position detecting switch 40, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the robotic arm is controlled to make the endoscope move leftward or rightward. When the endoscope reaches the intended site, the left protrusion 63 or the right protrusion 64 of the rotatable platform 60 is operated to leave the second position detecting switch 40 it previously contacted. At this time, the robotic arm stops moving and the placement of the endoscope is finished. On the other hand, for controlling the robotic arm to drive the endoscope to move forward or backward, the user may operate the pedals 70 and in turn the rotatable platform 60 to drive the movable platform 50 to move forward or backward. When the front protrusion 52 or the rear protrusion 53 of the movable platform 50 touches the first position detecting switch 30, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the robotic arm can be controlled to drive the endoscope to move forward or backward. When the endoscope reaches the intended site, the front protrusion 52 or the rear protrusion 53 of the movable platform 50 is moved away from the first position detecting switch 30 it previously contacted, so the robotic arm stops moving and the placement of the endoscope is finished. Moreover, for sizing the field of view of the endoscope through the robotic arm, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the user may release the force he/she applies to one of the pedals 70, meaning that only one of the pedals 70 is depressed. When the endoscope's field of view is well adjusted, the user once again steps on the both pedals 70, so as to further control the movable platform 50 and the rotatable platform 60.

To sum up, the disclosed multidirectional foot controller 10 uses the forward and backward movements of the movable platform 50, the single-axis rotation of the rotatable platform 60, and the up and down movements of the pedals 70 to provide a multidirectional operation mode. This allows a user to operate an endoscope through a robotic arm more stably, thereby improving working efficiency and operational precision. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A multidirectional foot controller, comprising: a base; two first position detecting switches, deposited at front and rear ends of the base, respectively; two second position detecting switches, deposited at left and rear sides of the base, respectively; a movable platform, being such installed on a top surface of the base that the movable platform is allowed to move forward or backward with respect to the base and is allowed to selectively touch one of the first position detecting switches; a rotatable platform, being pivotally installed on a top surface of the movable platform that the rotatable platform is allowed to rotate leftward or rightward with respect to the movable platform, and allowed to selectively touch one of the second position detecting switches; and two pedals, being such deposited on a top surface of the rotatable platform that the two pedals are tandem arranged.
 2. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 1, wherein the base has a lower housing, an immovable platform, and at least two rollers, the immovable platform being assembled to a top surface of the lower housing, the two rollers being deposited at two ends of the immovable platform, the two first position detecting switches being deposited at front and rear ends of the lower housing, the two second position detecting switches being deposited at left and rear sides of the lower housing, the movable platform being deposited on a top surface of the immovable platform, the movable platform having a bottom surface provided with at least two roller tracks, and each of the roller tracks abutting against one said roller.
 3. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 2, wherein the base further comprises a circuit board that is fixed to the lower housing and is electrically connected to the two first position detecting switches, the two second position detecting switches, and the two pedals.
 4. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the movable platform has a first pivot portion, and a bottom surface of the rotatable platform has a second pivot portion, in which the first and second pivot portions are pivotally combined through a bearing.
 5. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 4, further comprising a torsion spring that is such mounted around the second pivot portion of the rotatable platform, and two ends of the torsion spring are connected to the movable platform and the rotatable platform, respectively.
 6. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 1, further comprising a guiding member, wherein the movable platform has a lower curved groove, and the rotatable platform has an upper curved groove, while the guiding member has a shaft, a fixed block, and an idler, in which the shaft is received in the upper curved groove of the rotatable platform and the lower curved groove of the movable platform, and the fixed block is connected to a top end of the shaft and fixed to a top surface of the rotatable platform, while the idler is rotatably connected to a bottom end of the shaft and abuts against a wall of the lower curved groove of the movable platform.
 7. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 1, wherein the movable platform has front and rear ends thereof provide with a front protrusion and a rear protrusion, respectively, and the movable platform touches the two first position detecting switches through the front and rear protrusions.
 8. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 7, wherein when the front protrusion or the rear protrusion touches the first position detecting switch, an externally connected robotic arm is controlled to move an endoscope forward or backward, and when the front protrusion or the rear protrusion leaves the first position detecting switch it originally contacts, the robotic arm stops moving.
 9. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 1, wherein the rotatable platform has left and rear sides thereof provided with a left protrusion and a right protrusion, respectively, and the rotatable platform touches the two second position detecting switches through the left and right protrusion.
 10. The multidirectional foot controller of claim 9, wherein when the left protrusion or the right protrusion touches the second position detecting switch, an externally connected robotic arm is controlled to move an endoscope leftward or rightward, and when the left protrusion or the right protrusion leaves the second position detecting switch it originally contacts, the robotic arm stops moving. 